Floating on the featureless surface of Lake Moultrie reminded me of my honeymoon.

My bride and I spent several days fishing in Baja, Mexico. We started the trip offshore in typical sportfishing boats out of Cabo San Lucas, boats equipped with the latest rods, reels, navigation and fish-finding equipment.

The sun was peeking over the horizon when three goose hunters became convinced they were about to get some company. They laid back in their coffin blinds, side-by-side on the half-acre sandbar as the flock of Canada geese winged its way down the deserted cove. When the lead goose was 20 yards from the decoys, Dwayne Padgett of Monks Corner and his buddies emerged from their blinds and cut loose on the Canadas, which were backpedaling in mid-air.

Ice hockey has hat tricks celebrating the player who scores three goals in one game; basketball has its 3-pointer for long-range shots, and baseball designates the Triple Crown for the ballplayer who ranks first in his league in batting average, runs batted in, and home runs — all in the same season.

Good things also happen in threes in the sport of black bass fishing at W. Kerr Scott Reservoir.

Hunger is a great motivator. The thought of going through the winter with an empty stomach is enough to make even the wariest of speckled trout throw down its guard and slash around at just about anything that happens to float or swim past its nose.

Follow the advice in this issue to put a big September buck on your wall.